Gael Monfils shocks Stefanos Tsitsipas in Toronto as Andy Murray advances
- Planet Sport writer
- 10 August 2023
Monfils rolled back the years to stun Tsitsipas while Murray's resurgence continued.
Veteran Gael Monfils stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the third round of the National Bank Open in Toronto.
The flamboyant former top-10 star has struggled with injuries over the past year and is ranked down at 276 but showed he still possesses the skills to trouble the very best with a 6-4 6-3 victory over fourth seed Tsitsipas.
The Greek, who won a title in Mexico last weekend, made a lot of mistakes, particularly on his forehand wing, but Monfils, three weeks short of his 37th birthday, was excellent in defence and attack.
Also in action was Andy Murray, who overcame a tough fightback from Australian qualifier Max Purcell to reach the round of 16.
The Scot won 7-6 (2) 3-6 7-5 in two hours and 47 minutes to set up a meeting with Italy's Jannik Sinner for a spot in the quarter-finals.
There was little separating Murray and Purcell in the first set, each man breaking and breaking back en route to a tiebreak.
Murray was finally able to put some distance between himself and his opponent by wrapping up the first set, but Purcell refused to lie down.
The world number 78 rebounded strongly in the second to force a third and deciding set.
Purcell went up a break early in the third, but a crucial service hold down 4-2 was enough to spur Murray on to once again even things up.
Neither man was able to gain a decisive advantage as the set wound down, until Murray broke Purcell's serve in the 12th game to win the match.
Home favourite Milos Raonic continued his resurgence, meanwhile, following up his upset of Frances Tiafoe by seeing off qualifier Taro Daniel 6-4 6-3.
The former Wimbledon finalist did not compete between July 2021 and this June because of injuries and is unsure what the future holds but he has made it back-to-back victories at the Canadian Masters event for the first time in seven years.
He next faces American Mackenzie McDonald, who knocked out sixth seed Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-3, while second seed Daniil Medvedev is safely through after a 6-2 7-5 win over Matteo Arnaldi.
